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E. F. HILL.

LOCKING DB'VIGBFOR GOPFINS. No. 299,140. Patented May 27, 1884.`

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EDVIN F. HILL, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONEvHALF TO JOSEPH G. JACOBS, OF SAME PLACE.

Loomue Device Foa Cort-ias.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,140, dated May 27, 1884.

Application filed May 7, 1883. (Model.)

l will enable others skilled in the art to which it ap'pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in metallic cofiins.

My invention relates to self-locking devices for metallic cofins. The present mode of attaching the locking device to the side or edge of a metallic coffin does not prevent the graverobber from-removing the locks by punching out the rivets, which are exposed on the outside of the coffin, and thus detaching or destroying the lock and enabling him to remove the lid.

The `object of my invention is to prevent the grave-robber from accomplishing his purpose in removing or destroying the locks or otherwise obtaining any knowledge of their location. To accomplish this I construct the locks with a separate attachment, which extends from a point in the same plane with the edge of the body down to and is secured upon the top surface of the bottom plate.

A part of my invention consists, also, in a certain construction of the locking devices, whereby they are made more certain and effective in their operation.

Figure l represents a metallic coffin, the lid of which is a broken section having my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a crosssection through line x, looking from right to left. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of one of the locks with its catch in connection therewith, enlarged. Fig. 4. is an end view of the same with its attachment. Fig. 5 is a top view of the lock as shown in Fig. 3.

A is the body ofthe coffin; B, the lid of the same. a is the lock, which consists of a cylindrical spring-bolt, c, operatingthrough asquare block, c, having an opening for the rear half of the bolt, which is of lesser diameter, and upon which the spring is wound, the rear half of the bolt extending through the guide t" of the block or case of the lock, to keep it in line and to retain the spring in its place. The top part of the bolt has a long slot, i, in it, and a screw, e, extends from the top down into this slot, to prevent the bolt from turning. Below the bolt, and extending the length of the lock-frame, is a long flat spring, f, secured at its rear end to the guide-piece 13, and extending forward to the end of the throw of the bolt. Extending upward from this spring, behind the square part of the block c, is a pin, f, which enters a hole, min the bolt and locks it when retracted, as seen in Fig. 3. Vhen the bolt is thrown forward by the action of its spring as this pin is released, it drops in behind the shoulder d', formed on the bolt, by turning it down to receive the spring d, as shown in Fig. 5.

The operation of the lock is as follows: The catch g (seen attached to the frame-bar g ofthe lid) drops down in front ofthe end of bolt c un-' til its end strikes the forward end of spring f, pushing it downward until the pinf/ is released from the hole n, when the bolt is thrown forward by the action of the spiral spring d entering the hole c in the catch. The catch g` is made detachable by virtue of having its shank threaded and being screwed into the flat bariron frame g of the lid B, as seen in Fig. l and in the details, Figs. 3, 5. It is a heavy flat metal lug having a collar thereon separating its shank from the operative end. It has a hole through it, slightly elongated vertically to insure catching the bolt. The lock-frame a may be in a single piece with the upright attachment b, or it may be bolted thereto. The upright b, which wholly supports the lock, is of flat bar-iron, and extends down to the bottom plate, a', being turned inward toward the middle of the same at nearly right angles, and an expanded foot-piece, b, which is strongly secured to said bottom plate with heavy screws, completes the attachment. The lock-frame c and the extended upright b,with its foot-piece, can all be formed in asingle piece of malleable iron; or the i'shaped upright Z) can be forged of fiat bar-iron and the lock-frame riveted IOO thereto. One of these locking devices, with its attachment, is fastened to the bottom plate of the coffin at each side and one at each end. The upright extends from the bottom plate upward parallel with the inner Wall of the case, and may touch it; but it is not attached to any part of the case but the bottom plate. The lid B,When the coffin is made of plate or heavy sheet iron, has the broad flat bariron frame g attached to it, to strengthen it and to form a strong attachment for the catch g, which is screwed into it, as seen in the detail figures. 'Ihe catches g can be taken off or attached by hand Without the use of tools, and they are not secured to the lid until the services have ended and the coffin is to be closed for the last time.

I am aware that self -locking devices for grave-vaults are not new, and I do not claim them.

I claim as my'invention- 1. In a metallic coffin, the combination,with aself-locking device, of an upright extending from the bottom plate to the upper edge of the coffin-body, Within the latter, said upright beingunattached to the sides of said coffin, and having a right-angled foot-piece, by which it is secured to the bottom plate,for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. In a metallic coffin, the combination, with the fiat upright bar extending from the bottom plate tothe top of the coffin sides and ends, and unattached to either of the latter, and having an angular foot-piece secured to said bottom plate, as described, of the self-locking device at the top end of said bar, adapted to automatically engage with the catch of the lid,

for the purpose set forth.

3. In a self-locking device fora metallic cofconnected with bottom plate of the coffin, and having a lock upon the top end of thesame, of the catch provided with a screw-threaded shank, and adapted to be attached to and defin, the combination, with the upright bar tached from the lid of said coffin by means of the fingers, as hereinbefore set forth. v

In testimony whereof' I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. y

EDWIN E. HILL.

Witnesses:

G. M. GRIDLEY. B. C. CONVERSE. 

